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Republicans Propose Education Cuts to Minimum Funding Levels
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Among the $22 billion in proposed cuts by state Republicans today, close to half that, 10.6 billion, would be cut from K-12 schools and community colleges. "That would bring school funding to just about the minimum required by state law," the Sacramento Bee notes.
That funding level would be "the equivalent to shutting down the three largest school districts in the state, or over $1,300 a kid," according to Senate President Pro Tem and Democrat Darrell Steinberg. "That's no way to build for the future... "Republicans obviously don't think the time for ideology and posturing is over."
California's budget is projected to be around $40 billion in two years. The LA Times found today said that some believe "this nation-state is so oversized, Balkanized and polarized that it is destined for dysfunction no matter who is in charge. They cite its influx of immigrants, its constant tensions over water supply and its large, self-contained regions that bear little resemblance to one another. One blog proposes to break the state into three or secede from the union and still break the state into three.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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